Sathya Sai Baba

Police seized 35.5 lakh rupees being transported from Puttaparthi and detained several people connected with construction of the memorial. The incident, occurring shortly after the Yajur Mandir inventory, fuelled suspicions about the trust's transparency and a power struggle over assets valued in the billions.

State of the evidence

Documented

Sathya Sai Baba claimed, or allowed his followers to attribute to spiritual powers, the materialisation of vibhuti, jewellery and other objects. Rationalists and magicians, including P. C. Sorcar and Basava Premanand, publicly argued that these manifestations could be reproduced through sleight-of-hand techniques.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Personally implicated

Sai Baba received, or counted among his followers, very senior politicians, judges, officials and businesspeople. Critics maintained that this closeness contributed to weak investigations into matters surrounding his ashram, particularly the 1993 deaths and sexual allegations.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

After Sai Baba's death, the opening of his private quarters revealed approximately 11.56 crore rupees in cash, 98 kg of gold and 307 kg of silver. The discovery renewed questions about the distinction between donations to the guru, personal belongings and charitable trust assets.

State of the evidence

Documented

Several male former followers accused Sai Baba of touching, genital massages or sexual coercion during private interviews presented as spiritual rituals or treatments. The allegations were reported by India Today, the BBC and The Guardian and led some groups of followers to leave.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Accused

The allegations prompted the closure or withdrawal of certain affiliated organisations in Europe and warnings about young people's contact with the movement. In 2006, a Sai organisation's partnership with the Duke of Edinburgh Award prompted fresh controversy in the United Kingdom.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Institutional responsibility

Four young disciples entered Sai Baba's quarters; two of his aides were fatally stabbed and others injured. The four intruders were subsequently shot dead by police in a room within the complex. The precise sequence, motive and necessity of the police shootings prompted serious questions.